Pour Point Depression of Waxy Crude Oil Using Unmodified African Pear (Dacryodes edulis) Seed Oil
Akpan, U.E. *
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Achugasim. O.
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The pour point depression of a Nigeria waxy crude oil was investigated using unmodified African pear seed oil. Crude oil sample collected from a marginal field in Delta state was analyzed for its physiochemical parameters such as; specific gravity, API, kinematic viscosity, pour point and wax content. African pear seeds sourced from choba Port Harcourt were extracted of their oil content and the oil was analyzed for some oil quality parameters such as; free fatty acid (FFA), acid value, saponification value and iodine value. The results showed a crude oil of high wax content and extracted oil of low FFA and high saponification and iodine values. The waxy crude oil was dosed with the unmodified African pear seed oil of concentrations 0.1ml, 0.2ml and 0.3 ml. The result showed no reduction in the pour point of the crude oil at all concentrations. Therefore the African pear seed oil cannot be used as a pour point depressant in its pure state.
Keywords: Pour point, waxy crude oil, depressant, unmodified, African pear, oil